Venetian blind



Oct. 23, 1951 R. B. WEAVER 2,572,291

VENETIAN BLIND Filed March 17, 1947 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 IN V EN TOR.

Oct, 23, 1951 Filed March 17, 1947 R. B. WEAVER VENETIAN BLIND 2SHEETSSHEET 2 IN VEN TOR.

055,4 7 3 W Ava? BY ATTOZA/EV acceptance as a means for such control.

Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT F F ICE "VEN-ETIAN BLINDRobert B. Weaver, LosAngeles, .Calif. Application March 17,1947,-'Serial No. 735,165

4 .Glaims, (Cl. 160-468) Ehe'presentinventionerelatestotfienetian blindsin :general and particularly to can improved Vene- .tiam blind of simplezconstrnctionand improved operating characteristics. More specificallythe invention comprises .a Venetian :blind in which -,a single pair ofcontrol :cords i-unctionsto 'raiseiand lower the slats :and also -:tochange their angulaxity.

:The control of the passage of light :and air thru a window and into "aroom is an important function and :the modern Venetian blind has *won inits operative or lowered :position the blind properly positioned in awindow can permit light and air to pass therethrusubstantially withouthindrance or, by .a simple operation, can .be altered to :prevent thepassage of those elements. Being integrated for relative movement in itsparts it is adapted to be raised so that it is entirely inoperative.

'The usual and well known Venetian blind is raised, lowered andangularly adjusted by means of two pairs of control cords which areusually positioned at opposite sides of the :blind, :although they can,.ifpreferred, be positioned upon the same side. In :the usualconstruction-the occupant of the :room, if heidesircs to raise theblind, pulls only :upon one :pair of cords whereupon the blind isprogressively collapsed by the force which he exerts :and is moved tothe upper end of the window. it the :occupant intends merely to vary the:rate of entrance of lighter air into the room he pulls upononezori-the'otherqmember of the second pair of cards ;A pull upon onecord will cause the :slats to move toward a .substantially vertical,parallel, single plane relationship in which the passage of lightand air:is effectively prevented, while a pull upon {the other cord will movethem toward spaced parallelism in which each :slat lies :flat in ahorizontal plane, only its width, which is relatively slight,pneventing'the passage of light and air, Thesezcontrol cords, however,greately resemble each other and frequently the room occupant whendesiring to raise the blind finds instead that he is pulling 'upon thatpair of cords which .is adapted to change the angularity of the slats.Similarly when he wishes 'to change the slat eangularity she findshimself pulling upon one s01 the other of the cords which are adapted to"function to raise the entire blind. Of icou-rse the shift from one pairof cords to the othercan he made once the mistake is discovered but thenecessity of making two attempts to accomplish a simple opera--unsatisfactory 'to most persons.

2 With an appreciation of the -functiona:l 1defects of the constructionof the prior art Venetian blinds constructed in accordance with thepresent invention are so designed and related as.

to obviate the shortcomings of the earlier eonstructions and it is,accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide :a new andimproved Venetian blind.

It is another object :of the invention 'to provide anew and improvedVenetian blind in which the blind is both raised and lowered :and theangularit-y of its slats altered by means of a single pair of controlcords.

A still .f-urther object of the invention is to provide a simplified andimproved Venetian blind construction in which a single pair of controlcords positioned at one side -'of the blind is-functionally capable-ofraising and lowering the rbl-ind and also of changing 1711815131.angularity.

These and other more specific objects will ap-- pear upon reading thefollowing :specificationvand claims and upon considering in connectiontherewith attached drawing to which they relate.

In the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the inventionillustrated:

Figure 1 is a view of a'window provided with a Venetian blindconstructed :in vaccordancew-ith the present invention, the appearancecase :being broken awaybetter to disclose the working parts;

Figure 2 is a top view ef the construction of Figure 1,;

Figure 3 is;-an enlargement of the upper left portion of Figure 2:;

Figure 4 is a section upon the .line 4-4 of Figure 3;; V

Figure '5 is a top view of a "second preferred embodiment of theinvention; and

.Figure '6 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the zsecondpreferredembodiment of the invention.

Referring :again to the drawing, the Venetian blind constructed inaccordance with the present invention :is seen 'to comprise a headorsupporting board H suitably fixed adjacent its ends by a pair :ofbrackets -12 to the upper member I 3 of a window frame, indicatedgenerally by the referencecharacter -M. Supporting board H .is,.-as itsname indicates, the base or support upon which the Venetian blind properis supported aand relative to which it .is adjustable.

The Venetian blind proper, and by this isineant the cooperative elementswhich iunction directly to exclude light or air, includes a tiltablecross bar .I 6 sup orted at its opposite ends by brackets 15 extendeddownwardly afrom the underside {of transversely slotted, as indicated at23 in Figure 4, immediately adjacent the webs 21 for a purpose to beexplained.

A continuous cord 26 is secured at its opposite ends to the base elementl9 and extends upwardly thru the vertically aligned slots23 in the slatsgular variation in position of the slats 22 supported thereby. It isalso clear that a force exerted simultaneously upon cords 36 and 31resulting in an equal displacement of each cord will not result inrotation of gear 43 but instead in the movement of pulley block 32toward the left to effect a raising of the blind. Similarly, a conjointupward movement of the cords 36 and 31 produces a movement to the rightof block 32 and the lowering of the blind. A downward force exerted onlyupon one or the other of cords 36 and 31, however, results in theturning of pulley 43, the rotation of shaft 46 and the angularadjustment of the blind as described.

22 to pass over pulleys 21 supported from the underside of head II. Thetwo extensions of the cord pass to the right along the underside'of headH and then upwardly and over a pair of pulleys 28 rotatably mounted in avertical slot 29 atone end of the head. Upon the upper side of the headthe extensions of cord 26 reach toward the center of the window. passaround a pair of pulleys 3| carried by amovable bracket or frame 32, andthen double back to be secured by a fixed retaining hook element 33. Asthe cord 26 is of fixed length it is clear that movement of pulley block32 to the left, as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, will result in the upwardmovement of its ends and in the raising of the base element [9. As thelatter element moves upwardly it collects and effects the subsequentcollapse, slat by slat, of the entire blind, the movement continuingsufficiently.

' To raise the blind by effecting the transverse movement of thepulley-carrying block 32 a pair of cords36 and 31 are provided whichhang downwardly at one end of the blind and preferably are provided withsuitable end members or elements 38. Cords 36 and 31 extend upwardlythru a, vertical slot 39 in support element ll passing over suitablepulleys 40 rotatably mounted therein in slightly spaced relationship,both laterally and longitudinally, as is illustrated in Figure 2. Fromthe pulleys 40 cords 36 and 31 extend to the right, as viewed in Figures1 and 2, and pass around a pair of pulleys 4| also carried by the block32 and so movable with the aforedescribed pair of pulleys 3!. Afterpassing around pulleys 4i the cords 36 and 31 extend again toward theslot 39. their ends being joined by a suitable chain 42 encircling apulley 43, the peripheral surface of which is roughened to preventslippage.

Pulley'43 is rotatably supported upon the upper end of a bushing 44preferably formed integrally with a bracket I5 supporting one end of thecross bar [6. A shaft 46 fixed to the pulley extends downwardly thrubushing 44 and carries at its lower end a peripherally slotted drum orcylinder 4'! which functions as a gear or pinion in mesh with anadjacent gear 48 fixed to the supporting shaft of the cross bar l6 andupon the opposite side of the bracket 15 therefrom. Clearly rotation ofshaft 46 will affect rotation of gears 41 and 48 and the angular tiltingof the cross bar 16. As is clearly shown in the drawing the diam- 'etersof the pulley 43 and gears 41 and 48 are so proportioned as to provide amechanical advantags in the sense that the force provided at the pulleysurface produces a greater force at the cross bar. Because front andrear tapes l1 and 18 are fixedly connected respectively to the front andrear sides of cross bar l6 its tilting will affect a shift in therelative vertical positions of ends of the webs 2| and brin about atilting Or an- As in the usual blind construction means comprisingpivoted locking links, indicated generally at 45, are provided to retainthe cords 36 and 31 in a set position from which they can be released bypulling the lower end of the cords in the proper direction, in a mannerwell known in the art.

The operation of the-Venetian blind constructed in accordance with thepresent invention is believed to be clear from the foregoing. It beingdesired to raise the blind the operator grasps both the draw cords 36and 31 and pulls downwardly thereon. This movement effects a shorteningof'that section of the cords 36 and 31 between the block 32 and thepulley 43 and the for mer is drawn to the left, as illustrated inFigures 1 and 2, thereby effecting the upward movement of the lower endsof cord 26 and the raising of the blind. To lower the blind the reverseoperation takes place, that is, cords 36 and 31, after first beingreleased from the retaining hold of the locking means 45, are permittedto rise to the same extent whereupon the blind is lowered.

To change the angular adjustments of the slats 22, and depending uponwhether it is desired to open or to close the blind, the cord 36 or 31is pulled downwardly. If cord 36 is pulled downwardly cord 31 travelsupwardly an equal amount, the weight of the supporting structure beingsufficient to prevent travel of the block 32. The downward movement ofcord 36 produces movement in the chain 42 whereupon pulley 43 is rotatedand this rotation is transmitted thru shaft 46 to gear 41 meshin withgear 48 whereupon the cross bar i6 is angularly adjusted effecting theadjustment of all of the slats as previously mentioned. The same forceexerted upon the cord 31 effects an opposite movement of the slats.

Referring now particularly toFigures 5 and 6, a second preferredembodiment of the invention is illustrated, one functionally similar tothe first described embodiment but of somewhat simpler construction. Thehead or supporting board If and its supporting brackets l2 are the sameas in the first embodiment and the cross bar [6 is again tiltablysupported at its opposite ends by brackets 15. Its angular adjustment iseffected by the cooperation of the gear 48 secured to its end with thgear 41 positioned at the lower end of the shaft 46 carried by theadjacent brackets 15. As in the first embodiment the upper end of shaft46 carries a pulley 43 above the head H and spaced pairs of front andrear tapes I1 and [8 tiltably support slats 22 as before. The importantdistinctions lie in the cord operating means which will now bedescribed.

A pair of cords, indicated at 6| and 62, are secured at their inner endsto the lowermost slat or base element l9 and extend upwardly through theslats 22, through the cross bar 16 and over pulleys 63 carried below thesupporting board H in the manner of pulleys 21 in the first embodien ae:

ment. Cords =61 and 62. after passing around pulleys- 63, extendlongitudinally below the head element H and upwardly through a slot .64therein, being uided in the separate and deep v grooves of a pulley 66.The grooves of. the pulley grip .the .cords and insure synchronous equaladjustment. Upon the upper side of head H the cords extendlongitudinally toward the fixedly positioned pulley -13 to encirclepulleys ii! :at- .tached to opposite ends of achain '68 encircling theaforedescribed pulley 43,. From its pulleyfil each of the cords El and62 reverses its direction and extends along the opposite sides-of thehead element past the pulleys 66. Cord 6] extends downwardly throughhead H at .a slot .1], encircling a pulley 12, while the cord 62,, beingposi- I tioned upon the opposite side of the head, is uided by spacedpulleys 1.3 and I4 into position to extend downwardly through a secondand adiacentslot 16, corresponding to the aforementioned slot H, inwhich it rides upon a pulley ll. Immediately below the head element l la locking fixture :45 is again provided, as in the first embodiment, bywhich the cords .are releasably secured against unintended displacementas in the usual Venetian blind construction.

The operation of this second preferred embodimerit -:of the invention isbelieved to be clear and it is particularly .to be noted that but asingle pair oficords is required. To raise the blind the operator simplypulls downwardly upon "both cords BI and 62. Therefore, the cords beingpulled equally, but one result can follow and that comprises of theraising of the base element It which, as it moves upwardly, successivelycollects the spaced slats 22 thereabove. It being desired to change theangularity of the slats, however, the operator simply pulls downwardlyupon one or the other of cords BI and 62. A downward force upon cord 6|,for example, exerts a force which tends both to raise the base elementl9, at its point of connection therewith, and also to pull the pulley81, around which it passes, toward the pulley 65. Opposing this shiftingmovement of pulley 6? is only the force exerted upon the second pulley67 at the opposite end of the connecting chain 68 and any frictionalresistance to the movement present in the pulley 43 and the movableparts gear-connected thereto. The weight of the blind opposing theupward movement of the base l9 exceeds the force opposing the rotationof pulley 43 and-as a result, the force in cord 61 efiects the movementof pulley 61 which it encircles toward the left, as viewed in Figure 5,whereupon pulley 43 rotates. The movement of the chain 68 also, andincidentally, resulting in the shifting of the second pulley 61, thatencir cled by cord 62, to the right, as viewed in Figure 5, whichresults in the upward movement of the operators end of cord 62. Therotation of the pulley 43, of course, results in the rotation of shaft46 and of gears 41 and 48, the latter effecting the tilting of the crossbar IE to which it is attached. As in the first embodiment the tiltingof cross bar, It affects the relative displacement of the tapes I! andI8, whereupon the angularity of each of the slats 22 is changed.Obviously a force exerted upon cord 62, rather than upon cord 6! asdescribed, will produce rotation of the pulley 43 in the oppositedirection and a shift in the angularity of slats 22 opposite to thatproduced by the pull upon cord 6|.

While the particular constructions herein shown and described in detailare fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantageshereinbefore stated, it is to be under stood that they are merelyillustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention andthat no limitations are intended to the details of construction ordesign herein shown and as defined in the appended claims.

. I claim: 7

1. A Venetian blind comprising a supporting head bar, across bar mountedbelow said head bar for tilting movement about a horizontal axis, aplurality of parallel slats positioned below said crossbar, tapesdepending from opposite sides of said cross bar supporting said slats inspaced relationship for conjoint tilting movement with said cross bar, apair of cords attached to the lowermost slat at spaced points extendedupwardly through said slats, said cross bar, and said head bar, each ofsaid pair of cords encircling a traveling pulley and extended downwardlythrough said head bar, a fixed axis pulley on said head bar, a chainencircling said fixed axis pulley and connected 'to said travelingpulleys adapted to rotate said fixed axis pulley upon being itselfdisplaced by the relative movement of said traveling pulleys, a powertransmission between said fixed "axis pulley and said cross bar to turnsaid cross bar about said horizontal axis to eflect a tilting movementof said bar and of said slats connected thereto, characterized in thatthe resistance to turning of said pulley with a fixed axis including itsconnected load is sufiiciently reduced that a pull upon one only-of saidpair of cords displaces the connected traveling pulley and connectedchain to efiect the rotation of said pulley.

2. In a Venetian blind of the type including a fixed horizontal headbar, a cross bar tiltably mounted thereunder, spaced pairs of tapesconnected at their upper ends to opposite sides of said cross barsupporting parallel slats for conjoint tilting movement with said crossbar there below, means to raise and lower said slats and means to changetheir angularity, said means to raise and lower said slats comprising: apair of cords having their free ends hanging at the side of said slatsextended upwardly through said head bar and horizontally therealong toencircle individually displaceable pulleys, each cord reversing itsdirection of travel upon encircling said displaceable pulley, thenextending downwardly through said head bar, cross bar and slats toconnect in each instance to the lowermost slat; said means to change theangularity of said slats comprising: a fixed axis rotatable elementcarried by said head bar, a gear and shaft connection between saidrotatable element and said cross bar to transmit the movement of saidelement to said bar to tilt it, and a force-transmitting elementconnecting said rotatable element to said displaceable pulleys to rotatesaid element in one direction upon the displacement of one of saiddisplaceable pulleys and in the opposite direction upon the displacementof the other of said pulleys.

3. In a Venetian blind of the type including a fixed horizontal headbar, a cross bar tiltably mounted thereunder, spaced pairs of tapesconnected at their upper ends to opposite sides of said cross barsupporting parallel slats for conjoint tilting movement with said crossbar therebelow, means to raise and lower said slats and means to changetheir angularity, said means to raise and lower said slats comprising: apair of cords having their free ends hanging at the side of said slatsextended upwardly through said head bar and horizontally therealong toencircle individually displaceable pulleys, each cord reversing itsdirection of travel upon encircling said displaceable pulley, thenextending downwardly through said head bar, cross bar and slats toconnect in each instance to the lowermost slat; said means to change theangularity of said slats comprising: a fixed axis rotatable pulleycarried by said head bar for rotation about a fixed axis, a shaft fixedto said last-mentioned pulley extended downwardly through said head bar,cooperating'gears upon the end of said cross bar and said shaft totransmit the rotation of said shaft to said cross bar, and a chainencircling said last-mentioned pulley and connected at its opposite endsto said displaceable pulleys and adapted to rotate said pulley inopposite directions'upon the movement of said displaceable pulleys inopposite directions.

4. In a Venetian blind of the type including a fixed horizontal headbar, a cross bar tiltably mounted thereunder, spaced pairs of tapescon-- nected at their upper ends to opposite sides of said cross barsupporting parallel slats for conjoint tilting movement with said crossbar therebelow, means to raise and lower said slats and means to changetheir angularity, comprising: a rotatable shaft extended verticallydownwardly through said head bar adjacent the end of said cross bar,gears upon said shaft and upon said cross bar to transmit the rotationof the former to the latter, a pulley carried by said shaft above saidhead bar, the diameters of said pulley and gears being proportioned toprovide a mechanical advantage upon the application of a rotating forceto said pulley, a chain encircling said pulley, a pair of pulleyscarried by the ends of said chain, a pair of cords extending upwardlythrough said head bar, encircling said pulleys and reversing theirdirection of travel and then extending downwardly through said head bar,cross bar and slats to connect to the lowermost slat, characterized inthat upon the conjoint downward movement of the free ends of said cordsthe pulleys at the ends of said chain remain fixed and said cords traveltherearound to efiect the displacement of the lowermost slat element,and in that upon the downward movement of the free end of only one ofsaid cords the pulley encircled thereby is displaced to effect themovement of said chain and the rotation of said pulley with a fixed axisto effect the tilting of said cross bar.

ROBERT B. WEAVER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,181,412 Wood Nov. 28, 19392,264,609 Ban Dec. 2, 1941 2,335,892 Wood Dec 7, 1943 2,354,803 EvansAug. 1, 1944

